Saturday, September 30, 2006

Motorsports Networking

I have four different racing teams who would like to talk more with me and get themselves seen on Racerchicks.Com.

The Autosports Designs Racing Aston Martin guys are really excited about the idea of getting a story done on them and circulated. The team owner thought it was a wonderful opportunity for them to get some coverage and for more people to have an idea of what they and their team are all about. They race for the SPEED World Challenge Series, which is smallert than ALMS, but they are still an established racing team with a lot of plans for where to take their franchise.

Bob Woodhouse of Woodhouse Racing is the man Ace and I affectionately refer to as "Uncle Bob". The man is incredibly friendly and out-going and I can tell he's going to be fun to talk with. He also has the most fantastic paint job I have ever seen on a Viper. He also gave us Woodhouse Racing t-shirts and hats for free when I asked him where I could purchase his racing merchandise.

Tracy and Susan Krohn of Krohn Racing are friends of ours. Susan races in the Panoz series and Tracy owns a few race cars and is the first team owner who ever invited me to come hang out anytime and chat. Tracy is an old friend, so he was happy to do an interview, and so was his wife. I met Tracy in 2004 when he was part of Krohn-Barbour racing.

By far, the biggest score of the week has got to be the fact that I'm getting contacts at ProDrive Aston Martin Racing --- the ALMS and LeMans major teams --- for interviews after the racing season is over. That in and of itself is something to be doing backflips over. I will not be doing backflips as I would much rather not have to endure a hospital stay when my back breaks.

I... am giddy and can't quit repeating everything that these four teams have said to me.

I think I bounced my way through all of last night and it just got worse this morning when I talked to the business manager of the ProDrive Aston team.

Like I have said before, the main reason I love being at an ALMS event is the fact that the people are down to earth and friendly, no matter how busy they might be.

...And On Friday We Had...

This was driven home during the mandatory Driver Autograph session that was taking place on the main paddock.

The lines were OMG way too fucking long, and there was no way I could stand in one place for very long.

Walking, I can do. Standing in one place, no.

I did get to see David and Boris during this as their lines weren't all that long in comparison to the lines for Corvette Racing, or Audi, or *sob* Aston Martin. Yeah, this year, Aston Martin Racing had a hell of a long line for people to talk to the drivers and get things signed. So, alas, I did not get the chance to speak to Darren Turner or Tomas Inge like I wanted to. That's okay, though. I'm sure I'll catch up with them again before the weekend is over. While I am happy that they are enjoying an increase in popularity, I do miss the ease of interacting with them like I did last year.

Want to know something great about having Media credentials? Access. Within reason, I can go anywhere I want here at Road Atlanta and talk to almost anyone I wish to. I don't get access to the private Hospitality areas, but that's okay with me. I can get close to the track where most people cannot to take pictures. I cannot go into a pit area during a race or a practice because I don't have a firesuit, but I can pretty much access anywhere else on the property.

Which makes talking to crew members and drivers of my teams much easier. My badge designates me as media and allows me to go into the garage areas and take images if I wish to. However, I had interesting words with another photographer yesterday. I stood at the entrance of the Aston tent and was taking pictures from the outside. I was waiting to get the attention of one of the crew members to ask permission to come into their area and shoot some images. The other photographer looked at me and then gave me a helpful smile.

"Just go on in," he said. "Your badge gives you that permission."

Okay, but no. That's not how I do things. Why? Because, if you show the team members that no matter what your credentials say, you respect their space and what they're doing, you end up getting better access --- and great conversations with them.

Most of the media here just wander right in. I do not. Ace does not. There are a handful of others who do not. Petit LeMans is a big race for the American LeMans Series. Getting your cars set up for this race is a big thing and there is a lot of work for the teams to do this weekend for this race. They appreciate it if you don't get in their way --- especially when it gets down to crunch time. I'd rather ask for their permission to come in and shoot images than take a chance of getting in their way or ostracizing an entire team. they appreciate the courtesy and I usually get more information and extra access when I use common courtesy and politeness.

There are worse things in this world than to be remembered as someone who is overly considerate and very polite.

Point in fact... among the excitement of yesterday, I happened to catch sight of an old friend of ours... Tracy Krohn. Some of you who were reading me back then may recall that I met Tracy when he was a co-owner of the Krohn-Barbour Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT team for 2004 --- right before Lamborghini screwed them over. Anyway, I saw him and went to speak to him and was immediately given a hug. He remembered me and asked about Ace and what we were doing now.

I highly doubt that I would have received such a warm greeting or be remembered so fondly by him if I had been less considerate and respectful of their space during a stressful time at Petit Lemans 2004.

Friday, September 29, 2006

Whee!

I am going to be interviewing Bob Woodhouse!!!

Bob Woodhouse is the owner and driver of the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe for Woodhouse Racing. He races in the Speed World Challenge GT Series. I will be conducting the interview via e-mail as it will be the easiest way to do it --- for us both.

If that wasn't terrific enough...

I will also be conducting interviews with the owners and drivers of the Aston Martin DBRS9s for Autosport Designs Racing.